Click Beetle – Eyed type – Identification

Q: I have never seen a bug like this. It sat on my fence, “posed” for my camera and I haven’t seen it since!

A: Your photo subject is an eyed click beetle. These are not usable eyes…just markings that scare off predators.

You have probably at some time picked up a smaller version of this large click beetle and marveled at their ability to “click” upright if placed upside down in your palm.

The larval from of this insect is called a wireworm. These creatures feed on the roots of certain plants. Unless you have a big garden and a significant problem with wireworms, I’d leave them to their own lives.